Dual-Core Smartphones Round-up

Dual-core Smartphones Roundup

This year has been one dominated by a new breed of high-end smartphones - the dual-core mobile handsets. Equipped with 1GHz or 1.2GHz dual-core processors, these beasts promise faster speed, an especially essential component for crunching the increasing multimedia content smoothly. The wave of next-gen smartphones kick-started with the LG Optimus 2X, the first smartphone to be equipped with the NVIDIA's Tegra 2 chip. This was the first commercially implemented dual-core mobile phone processor and our video here captures its advantages:-

Of course, NVIDIA hasn't been the only one to jump onto the bandwagon. Processor chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and Texas Instruments have also stepped in with their involvement, partnering with other major phone manufacturers. Since then, the list of dual-core processor equipped phones has grown to include a bevy of other manufacturers like Samsung, HTC and many more. To help you quickly hone in to your targeted category of mobile handsets, we've collated the list below for a comprehensive collection of reviews and previews from HardwareZone.com. We've even linked up relevant videos to provide you all resources related to dual-core smartphones in this article. Last but not least, here's a specs comparison page for all the phones featured in this article.

Powered by NVIDIA's Tegra 2 chip and loaded with Android 2.2 (with an upcoming update to 2.3), the LG Optimus 2X is the first phone to use this hardware and also comes with a large 4.0-inch screen in a well-constructed body. The smartphone is also powered by its own user interface called Optimus UI 1.5.

Taking a leaf out of its predecessor's book, the Android 2.3 Samsung Galaxy S II comes into the competition in full force and equipped with top-of-the-line specifications, including a 4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and 1GB RAM. The ultra-slim (8.49mm thin) smartphone sports a clean design and Samsung's own patented TouchWiz 4.0 UI, an upgrade from Samsung Galaxy S's TouchWiz 3.0. The latest version of the interface comes with a couple of small tweaks here and there; from sleeker widgets (including more to choose from), to new gesture functionality and improved camera interface

The Android 2.2 Motorola Atrix comes with a 4.0-inch qHD Gorilla Glass protected qHD (960 x 540 pixels) touchscreen, an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM. The most exciting aspect of the Atrix is that it comes with accessories that harnesses its dual-core process. Take for example, the Lapdock accessory, allows you to "transform" the smartphone into a working notebook/netbook or sorts. Like the Optimus 2X, the Atrix comes with its own MOTORBLUR UI that revolves around social networking.

The HTC Sensation is HTC's answer to the dual-core smartphone war. The Android 2.3 smartphone comes with ample power, including a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and HTC's revamped HTC Sense 3.0 user interface which was first seen on the HTC Flyer tablet, in which a new customizable and interactive lock screen is introduced. The smartphone also weighs in with a sturdy metallic build, and a generous 4.3-inch qHD display.

Upcoming 3D Dual-core Smartphones

3D capabilities have finally descended upon the mobile gadgets: after infiltrating the TV, gaming portable and camera segments. So far, the good thing about them is the screen type used that forgoes the need to use 3D glasses, so its more practical for gaming, taking photos or recording 3D videos. Here, we take a quick look at two upcoming full 3D smartphones that are powered by dual-core processors.

First sported at MWC 2011, the LG Optimus 3D is a full 3D smartphone, incorporating a "tri-dual" architecture, which is powered by a 1GHz dual-core, dual-channel Texas Instruments OMAP4 chipset. Other features include 3D recording, viewing, and sharing. The smartphone also comes with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, and is capable of rendering 3D images without the use of 3D glasses. More details are expected to be announced when the phone is formally announced in August in Singapore.

The next upcoming full 3D smartphone is the HTC EVO 3D smartphone, which looks set to sport a huge 4.3-inch 3D touchscreen, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and a dual 5-megapixel camera which allows users to take 2D and 3D videos and photos. More details are expected to be announced when the phone is formally announced in August in Singapore.